Work on Mumbai’s first working women’s hostel to start soon

But the project may face backlash as trees would be 8-10 trees that need to be cut for the hostel to be constructed

The civic body has prepared a policy for construction of such hostels across Mumbai as part of welfare planning under Development Plan 2034.(File)

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is all set to start the construction of its first working women’s hostel in Goregaon. The civic body has prepared a policy for construction of such hostels across Mumbai as part of welfare planning under Development Plan 2034. It will forward this plan to the building proposal’s department next week, following which construction of the building will begin.

However, the project may face backlash as there are about eight to 10 very old and healthy trees on this plot that need to be cut. An official from the DP department said, “It is likely to irk nearby residents, who have previously also opposed cutting of those trees, but there is no choice this time. It is sad that we will have to cut trees, but this plot has a DP reservation for ‘amenities’ and is therefore apt for women’s housing. We have already faced problems looking for vacant land to construct the other women’s hostels.”

The official said BMC tried to plan the building in a way that trees are not harmed, but it could not be worked out.

In August, the BMC got the possession of this plot, which although belongs to the civic body, was encroached upon by residents of a nearby housing society, said the official. The land was stuck in litigation for several years as the housing society moved the Bombay high court against BMC. The HC had then directed the BMC “not to touch the land”. The case wrapped up in August, and BMC got it back.

A civic official from the DP department said, “BMC is anticipating a delay in construction of this hostel. Since residents are antagonistic after the previous court case, they can approach the court again, if BMC cuts trees in their area.”

As part of the DP, the BMC has planned to construct working women’s hostels, old age homes, and day care centres in all BMC wards. A group of NGOs called ‘Gender and DP’ got together to design the first hostel and submitted its plan to the civic body. The municipal architect department tweaked the plan to fit it into the civic body’s parameters, and will now forward it to the building proposal department next week.